As a work from home professional you probably do much of your business over the phone. Lynda Goldman gives advice on how to make a good impression with clients, bosses and co-workers in her article on telephone business etiquette.

Telephone Etiquette – 7 Tips for Business Etiquette on the PhoneBy Lynda Goldman

Telephone etiquette is more important than ever. With voice message systems and email, it’s getting harder and harder to talk to a real person. So once you reach someone, you really want to connect and make a great impression.

1. Answer the phone, and call people back. You’ll make a great impression by being available, rather than hiding behind voice mail.

2. If you call someone and actually reach them, always ask if this is a good time to talk. If they sound rushed, ask when would be a good time to call back. There’s no point in trying to rush a conversation when both parties don’t have time to talk. You won’t accomplish what you set out to do.

3. If someone tells you they can’t talk now, ask them when would be a good time to call back. If they tell you to call the next day around 10 am, be sure to follow through. You’ll make a great impression by doing what you said you would do.

4. Make telephone appointments to discuss important issues, just as you make appointments to meet in person. Being in someone’s calendar for 10:30 am on Wednesday gives you almost as much importance as being there in person.

5. Prepare for your call in the same way you prepare for a personal meeting. Know the reason for your call, and jot down key points to discuss. Putting it in writing will help you stay focused, and lower your chances of getting sidetracked, or forgetting important items.

5. Stick to your point and keep it brief. If you are friendly with the person, it’s fine to ask how they’ve been, but monitor their voice. If they sound hurried, get to the point, or ask when would be a good time to call back.

7. Take notes. During the call, write down the relevant points you discussed. You’ll make a great impression by showing your attention to detail, and you’ll avoid having to call back to check on information you missed.

Do you know the biggest business image mistakes? Find out with these free reports:7 Business Casual Crimes and How to Solve Them, and 13 Foods that Can Sabotage a Business Meal, when you sign up for my Communication Capsules Ezine at: http://www.Impressforsuccess.com/signup.html

From Lynda Goldman, author of 30 books including How to Make a Million Dollar First Impression

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